There’s a lot to cover when it comes to learning to drive. At first, your energy will likely be focused on simply controlling the car safely and learning the rules of the road. But as your confidence grows, it’s a good idea to get used to driving in different types of situations, before you get behind the wheel solo.

Most learner drivers tend to have lessons straight after school or work. However, unless you’re learning in the depths of winter, this doesn’t give you much experience driving in the dark. Therefore, it’s important to schedule some lessons specifically later in the day or go out with other qualified drivers in the evening, to increase your confidence in this new scenario. That way, you can reduce stress for yourself once you pass your test, but also help keep others safe.

In this post, we share some tips for your first driving at night experience.

When driving in the dark, you’ll need to be confident using your lights in a way that isn’t generally necessary in daylight. In the car, you have several types of lights; dipped headlights, full beams, fog lights, hazard lights, indicators, side lights, tail lights and brake lights. These are all designed to help you see and be seen, but it’s important to know when to use them so you don’t blind other road users.

Full beams should only be used when the road in front of you is unlit and empty, and you should be prepared to switch to dipped beams quickly. For situations where oncoming traffic or street lights are illuminating the road, dipped beams are the best choice. They’re angled down towards the road, so you won’t dazzle anyone.

Even with headlights, your visibility is significantly reduced at night. You might not realise it, but when you’re driving during the day, you’re subconsciously scanning for hazards from all directions, which you can’t do when only a sliver in front of you is lit up. Therefore, it’s important to be more cautious, and expect the unexpected – animals such as deer and foxes are nocturnal, meaning they’re far more likely to make an appearance on the road at night.

When you’re running late, you may be tempted to put your foot down and speed up. This isn’t the best course of action, regardless of the time of day, but can be particularly bad at night when you can see less of the road. Additionally, as a learner, you may not yet be comfortable controlling the car at higher speeds, especially in the dark.

Whilst this isn’t likely to be a problem when you’re driving with an instructor, it may be one if you have your own car to practise in at home. Leave extra time for any journeys, and don’t let other road users or people in your car pressure you into driving faster than you’re comfortable with.

Some people find the idea of driving in the dark stressful, but being relaxed doing so is a big part of driving. Take your time getting comfortable with this new experience, and build up your confidence with short journeys in quiet areas if you’re finding it difficult.

If you would like a night time driving lesson to boost your confidence with one of our certified driving instructors, please get in touch,